Baptisms

Baptism at Grace Church

Purpose

We are excited that you are pursuing Christ and seeking to identify with him in baptism! We believe that baptism is an important step of obedience for every person who has accepted Christ as his or her Savior. Our goal is to shepherd you through the baptism process so that you might be fully prepared for your baptism. We would encourage you to take some time to read, pray, and reflect as you begin the baptism process.

What is baptism?

Baptism is an act of obedience and a way of publicly identifying with Jesus for those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. As Christ was buried and raised to life, baptism represents that you have died to your old life (burial) and have been given a new life (resurrection). Baptism does not make you a believer, but it is a way of publicly showing that you have surrendered your life to Jesus Christ. At Grace, we practice baptism by immersion because we believe it is the model presented in scripture and the best picture of what has happened in someone’s life when they trust Christ.

We also believe baptism in the New Testament is a sign and a step of commitment into the family of God and a local church body. Therefore, we baptize people who have demonstrated a willingness to be fully functioning members of Grace Church.

What if I have been baptized before or as an infant?

If you have already been baptized as a believer, then Grace Church would not ask you to be baptized again.

If you have become a believer since your baptism or were baptized as an infant, we would ask you to prayerfully consider getting baptized now as a follower of Christ.

(Please note: a particular view on baptism is not one of our foundational doctrines. If you hold a sincere and biblically-based view of baptism that is different than Grace Church’s, you are free to be a member and enjoy the same rights and responsibilities as every other member.)

What’s the next step if I want to be baptized?

The first step in the baptism process is for you to have a conversation with one of our pastors. They will listen to your story of how God has worked in your life and point you to information or steps that will help you prepare for baptism. Please fill out the form below and a pastor will contact you.

After your talk with the pastor, if you both agree baptism is an appropriate next step then you will receive a link to register for the next baptism at your campus.

CHILDREN

Parents and the church working together
Faithfully preparing a child to follow Christ in baptism is an important responsibility entrusted to Christian parents and the church. We believe parents are responsible for instructing their children and overseeing their spiritual development. The church is responsible for sustaining the ordinance of baptism and guarding it from abuse. That is why it is critical for the church and parents to work together in preparing children for baptism.

How do I know if my child is ready?

We think that as a parent, you have unique insights into your child’s spiritual life. We encourage you to work with the church to determine when he or she is ready to be baptized. Many children can verbally repeat the core principles of the gospel. While understanding the content of our faith is important, parents should not evaluate the spiritual state of their child solely on the fact that they have said a prayer or can repeat the facts of the gospel. We believe that children may freely enter the kingdom of God, because the requirement for entering the kingdom does not depend on age or intellect, but on faith in Christ. As Jesus wanted the little children to come to Him, we do not impose an age restriction for baptism. We believe He wants children who have faith in Him to identify with Him in baptism. The question then becomes, “How do I know if my child has faith in Christ?”

We suggest parents look for evidences of faith in their child. Some evidences of faith can be things such as unsolicited confession of sin, new obedience that happens from the child on his or her own initiative, a change in attitude and speech that seeks to bless others and glorify God, and other actions that demonstrate the Holy Spirit’s work in their lives. If a child expresses interest in baptism apart from these evidences, we should guard them from being baptized. As children age and mature, they will encounter more opportunities to express faith in Christ. When children are young, their faith is closely tied to their parent’s faith. Age and experience provide opportunities for this faith to become their own.

At Grace Church, for the reasons above, we rarely baptize very young children.

Our desire is to equip you as a parent to help shepherd your child through salvation and baptism. We ask that you listen to the following audio and thoughtfully talk through the questions below. It is our hope that these resources would be helpful tools for you as you lead your children in this area.

A Parent’s Role in Shepherding Your Child Through Baptism & Salvation – Listen

A Parent’s Role Discussion Questions

Why does your child want to be baptized?

What does this event mean for you as a parent? How do you feel this changes your discipleship relationship with your child?

What fruit has your child exhibited, that would mark him or her as a believer in Christ who is indwelt with the Holy Spirit?

Has there been unsolicited confession of his or her own sin?

The child will never be perfect, but is his or her pattern of obedience getting markedly better?

Does the child exhibit a desire for holiness?

If you feel your child is ready to begin the baptism process, click the link below. Registration involves setting up a time to meet with a pastor and have your child share their story of faith.